Electric vehicles on Road Safety Authority radar

The legal grey area occupied by electric two-wheeled vehicles is to be examined by the Road Transport Authority.

Public road use of electric skateboards, scooters and hoverboards is increasing and some of these vehicles can reach speeds of 45 km per hour in under two seconds.

Propulsion

Transport minister Shane Ross said in the Dáil “Any mechanically propelled vehicle, regardless of the form of propulsion, which is used in a public place, as defined in road traffic legislation, must be registered, taxed, insured and roadworthy, and the driver or rider must be licensed.”

He was responding to a question from Independent TD Tommy Broughan.

Minister Ross said that since electric or powered vehicles don’t currently conform to road safety legislation, they aren’t suitable for use in public places.

Feasibility

Therefore, he is asking the Road Safety Authority to do a feasibility study on capturing electric vehicles in existing legislation.

A legal question arises on the status of the electric vehicles. If they come under the description of ‘mechanically propelled vehicles’ with a power higher than 250W or a maximum speed greater than 25 km/, then they are liable to taxed and insured.